Collaboration can help growth plan be a long-term success
Date published:
The Chamber’s latest column for The Journal by Deborah Walton, president of the North East Chamber of Commerce and CFO at Palintest
The Interim North East Local Growth Plan from the North East Combined Authority sets out an ambitious vision for our region’s future.
From clean energy and global trade to innovation and inclusive growth, the priorities outlined are bold, timely and rightly aspirational.
But if we want to make this interim plan a long-term success, we need more than vision. We need meaningful collaboration and that means bringing the region’s businesses into the conversation as equal partners.
As President of the North East Chamber of Commerce and CFO at Palintest, a company headquartered in Gateshead with offices around the world, I welcome the direction of the plan.
At Palintest, we employ regional talent, manufacture critical water testing technologies and export to customers around the world. We believe companies like ours have a huge amount to contribute to the local economy. Not just in terms of jobs and economic value but through investment in innovation and skills.
We’re proud of our contribution and I know many other Chamber members feel the same. From high-tech startups to well-established exporters, the businesses of this region are not waiting for opportunity, they’re creating it.
The interim plan talks about working with partners to unlock investment and drive growth, and that is welcome. But partnership must be embedded from the outset in decision-making, funding allocation, and delivery. We know what’s needed to scale a business, create high-quality jobs and build resilient supply chains. Many of us are doing it already, often despite fragmented policy landscapes or short-term funding cycles.
The funding landscape remains uncertain. While initial investments, including the £70m North East Investment Fund and the proposed £3bn of private capital through the investment zone are welcome, the long-term sustainability of this plan depends on clear, committed funding from central government, alongside smart deployment of regional capital.
Devolution presents a real opportunity to align strategy with local strengths. The combined authority will need to show how the Plan translates into measurable outcomes not just in jobs and GDP but in skills, innovation capacity and business confidence.
As Chamber president, I’m committed to ensuring the voice of business is heard clearly and constructively. Let’s not miss this opportunity. Let’s make the Interim North East Local Growth Plan the moment we move from vision to delivery – together.